igneous

Granite

Phaneritic Felsic Igneous Rock (Granite)

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Gray, white, pink, and black salt-and-pepper appearance; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Cleavage: Distinct in feldspars, none in quartz.

Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale
Color: Gray, white, pink, and black salt-and-pepper appearance
Luster: Vitreous to dull

Identified April 7, 2026More igneous →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface. Granite is intrusive and can date back to any geological age from the Archean to the Cenozoic, depending on the specific pluton formation.

Uses & applications

Extensively used in construction for countertops, floor tiles, paving stones, and monuments due to its durability and aesthetic appeal.

Geological facts

Granite makes up a large portion of the Earth's continental crust. It is one of the hardest substances in the world, second only to diamonds in terms of natural building materials.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its coarse mineral grains (visible to the naked eye) consisting of quartz, feldspar, and mica. Found globally in mountainous regions and continental shields like the Canadian Shield.

Other igneous specimens

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Blue Apatite

Fluorapatite (Ca5(PO4)3F)

mineral

Dark Igneous Rock (Likely Basalt or Diabase)

Basalt (extrusive igneous rock) or Diabase (intrusive igneous rock - also known as Dolerite), largely composed of plagioclase feldspar, pyroxene (augite), and sometimes olivine and amphibole. Exact mineralogy would require thin section analysis.

Igneous